Secondary economic activities in the GDA

Factors of Development

Raw materials and markets are two factors which influence the development of secondary manufacturing in the Greater Dublin Area.

Raw materials

Agricultural production in the DA supplies a range of raw materials to agri-food industries located in the region.

Malt barley supports brewing by Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. In recent years, a number of new distilleries making Irish whiskey also use malting barley in the process.

Reservoirs in the Wicklow Mountains provide an abundant supply of clean water to industries such as the pharmaceuticals, e.g. Pfizer at Grange Castle.

Dairy farming supplies milk to the Cadbury plant in Coolock, and is also used in the production of crème liqueurs.

Beef farmers supply live cattle to meat processing plants, e.g. Kildare Chilling Company.

Horticulture supports the vegetable processing industry, supplying companies such as Green Isle in Naas and potato crisp manufacturers in North County Dublin.

transport links

Excellent transport links allow access to a national market of over 2.5 million people.

Road and rail connections with Northern Ireland allow access to a further market of 1.8 million.

Efficient air transport links allow high value products such as computer components to move in an efficient and cost-effective way to access markets in Europe and worldwide.

With wages in the region above the EU average, the regional market supports a wide range of consumer industries including publishing, e.g. International News and Media, Dublin.

Irelands membership in the EU

Ireland's membership in the EU opens up tariff free access to a single market of over 500 million people for any industry located in the GDA.

This has attracted foreign direct investment from pharma companies, establishing manufacturing plants in the region.

The multiplier effect creates markets among manufacturing industries in the region for products such as packaging.

Government agencies such as Enterprise Ireland provide support to Irish manufacturers in developing new markets.